Prison Counts Swell as ‘Jail Backup’ Rises, Then Drops

The number of inmates in Oklahoma’s corrections system has risen in most years during the past decade. Meanwhile, the number of state inmates in county jails awaiting transfer to prisons also generally has grown. Since June 30, when fiscal year 2014 ended,, the “jail backup” has plummeted even as total prisoners in the system increased, reflecting the transfers of offenders from jails to prisons. Early releases of inmates so far have not stopped overall corrections-system growth.

Note: 2014 estimates based on average population of one week from each of four quarters; 2015 estimates based on average population of one week from each of two quarters.

Source: Oklahoma Department of Corrections reports.

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